It feels like Philip Rivers and the Chargers are moving toward the end

Posted by Mike Florio on November 8, 2019, 11:01 AM EST

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The first round of the 2004 draft brought three great quarterbacks to the NFL, and J.P. Losman. One of those great quarterbacks will be moving after this season. Another one could be, too.

With Eli Manning‘s departure from the Giants a foregone conclusion, the Philip Rivers train seems to be pulling into the station in L.A.

Even before Thursday night, the signs were there for a quarterback change. In recent years, the Chargers have flirted with the idea of drafting an eventual replacement. From a possible trade up for Marcus Mariota in 2015 to the potential selection of Deshaun Watson in 2017, the idea of moving on from Rivers has lingered for a while.

Rivers turns 38 a month from today. This year, his numbers are down from 2018. On Thursday night, he threw three interceptions — and two more that were overturned by penalty. With the game on the line, Rivers failed to complete a pass, going 0-for-7 with an interception.

While the blame extends beyond Rivers, especially since the Chargers had plenty of time and three timeouts to get in range for a potential game-winning field goal, the quarterback’s throws were grossly inaccurate. In hindsight, that could be the moment that the Chargers decided the time has come for change.

There’s another reason for the Chargers to make a change after the 2019 season. They’ll be moving into a new stadium next year, and they’ve had a hard time establishing a fan base in L.A. They need to consider adding players who will energize the franchise and, in turn, the pool of paying customers.

At quarterback, they should seriously consider making a run at Cam Newton, if he’s available in trade. If not Newton, they should consider trying to sign Tom Brady, who would definitely sell PSLs, tickets, and jerseys.

That doesn’t mean it’s over for Rivers. He’d be a great addition to a team like the Titans, which would be a real contender with better quarterback play. But it feels like it’s over for the Chargers and Rivers. Just like it’s over for the Giants and the quarterback who made a power play that kept him from being drafted and retained by the Chargers more than 15 years ago.

Still, Rivers has had a great career which as a rival fan I think is worthy of induction into the HOF. His prime years were wasted under a terrible HC in “Norv” Turner but he kept the Chargers competitive in the standings in most of the years that he played. If Rivers had played for another team then it’s likely that he would’ve won (or at least appeared in) one or more Super Bowls (as Drew Brees & Eli Manning who were originally drafted by the Chargers did).

Rivers in the same boat as Eli and Flacco. They’re just too immobile for today’s NFL where defenders are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before. Mobility and agility have become essential for QBs in today’s NFL. Rivers, Brady, Brees, Flacco, and Eli are a dying breed in the NFL. The Chargers will need to look to the future and draft a QB high in 2020.

What a ridiculous, knee-jerk analysis based on ONE GAME during a 16-game season.

In 2019, Rivers has had FIVE 300+ yd games (and two just under at 294 & 293) and six games with a QB rating over 100. Even after yesterday’s performance, his season completion percentage of 65.9% IS STILL HIGHER that his career average.

And you cite his age at 38, yet one of your “replacement” options is Brady who’ll be 43 next season??

patsfan4lifesbchamps says:
November 8, 2019 at 11:14 am
Anthony Lynn is in over his head and is wasting Rivers final years.

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Anthony Lynn didn’t build the Offensive line. GM Tom Telesco did, so blame him. Rivers is reaching his expiration date and needs a successor. That being said, he’s better than most starters in the NFL.

Nothing has been mentioned about the weak offensive line, in particular the substitute left and right tackles who were beat all night. Rivers was constantly throwing from a crowd around him. The last possession the play calling was atrocious. Instead of short 10 yard throws to matriculate down the field, Rivers under pressure was forced to throw deep outs and long down field passes.

Cam Newton is a natural fit. I predict they will discuss this heavily. It could happen. OK, at least it could happen after they try every stiff on the planet. People like Peterman, Manziel or Baker and every other failed prospect will get first shot, before they do the obvious.

Rivers was the effect the Chargers offensive line constantly getting beat by Oakland was the cause. Didn’t see much effective pass play calling to counter Oakland’s constant pressure.

What really disgusted me was the pathetic effort the defense put up on Oakland’s last scoring drive to take the final lead. Did Oakland even face a third down on that drive? It was the most effortless and stress free drive of the entire game.

The Chargers are good on paper and good with their starters but by half time of the first game of every season half the starters are on IR. I really don’t know why Spanos doesn’t just do us all a favor and sell he’s the biggest failure in the NFL.

joker65 says:
November 8, 2019 at 11:11 am
It would be funny if Brees lasted longer than Rivers, considering the Chargers gave up on Brees and drafted Rivers as his replacement
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Its already funny since the Saints have a Lombardi with Brees, that has to be a little salt in the wound for the Chargers!

joker65 says:
November 8, 2019 at 11:11 am
It would be funny if Brees lasted longer than Rivers, considering the Chargers gave up on Brees and drafted Rivers as his replacement
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OH BTW, the Chargers didn’t draft Rivers, they drafted Eli and he refused to play for them.

I didn’t realize that Rivers also played on the offensive line. From what I saw, Rivers had no time to pass last night against a depleted Raider defensive line. It is typical of Florina to lie and to distort and to post blatantly false information, but Rivers’ issues last night were more due to the lack of play of those protecting him then him being passe.

Steve Cunningham says:
November 8, 2019 at 12:34 pm
joker65 says:
November 8, 2019 at 11:11 am
It would be funny if Brees lasted longer than Rivers, considering the Chargers gave up on Brees and drafted Rivers as his replacement
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Its already funny since the Saints have a Lombardi with Brees, that has to be a little salt in the wound for the Chargers!
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NEITHER of you know what you are talking about
this is not even a apples to apples comparison
Brees was injured at the time with serious doubts he could ever recover
I like brees, but the Chargers made the right call – Rivers has been a great HOF bound QB for them.

Lynn needed to hire a NEW OC not allow a no experienced QB’s coach to be the new OC huge mistake. The reason why Brady is so good is because they have one of the best OC’s in the business. The OC should of had him throw smaller passes to Hunter Henry instead of trying to get huge chunks of 25 yard passes. Nothing wrong with a 10 yard pass to an open Henry. The problem with Rivers is if he wants to throw it to Allen he will only focus on Allen and not an open receiver

No to Cam, don’t trust his arm after his shoulder injury. I could see Brady moving west, but not to the Chargers with that terrible offensive line. Maybe they trade for Minchew, more likely they go for a QB in the draft.

Mark my post down all you want, but the long marriage between Rivers and the seemingly always overrated Chargers is headed toward a divorce by mid-season next year at the latest whether or not those on here who’d rather not hear that are capable of accepting the reality of it.